Refrigerating apparatus



J. 6. KING v REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Nov. 15, 1932.

Filed April 26, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mum I lllllll 1a 7 mum W 51. LL; 83 1, WIM

Patented Nov. 15, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JESSE G. KING, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO FRIGIDAIRE CORPORATION, OF DAYTON,

OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Application filed April 26,

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and especially to the novel construction of evaporators for said refrigerating apparatus.

One. of the objects of the invention is to provide an evaporator of very pleasing appearance.

Another object of the invention is to provide an evaporator which is smooth and readily cleaned.

Another object is to provide an improved evaporator having an enclosure for ice freezin receptacles which freezes ice quickly.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description,reference. being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of an evaporator constructed according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the evaporator installed in a refrigerator of a certain type;

Fig. 3 is a top view looking down on line 33 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view through an evaporator constructed according to the invention.

There has been a growing tendency in the refrigerating art to provide shields or other concealing means for the various elements of the evaporator with the exception of the ice freezing receptacles. The shields provide a very easily cleaned surface and generally conceal an evaporator of the type that is not easily cleaned nor beautiful in appearance. It is one of the objects of this invention to provide a very easily cleaned evaporator and also at the same time to construct one with such a pleasing appearance that a concealing shield will not be desired for same. It is also desired at the same time to increase the efliciency in the heat transference between the refri rant and the ice freezing receptacles. s disclosed in the drawings a boiler or tank 10 preferably forms an element of the construction. A supporting ring 11 is located at the opening of the tank and carries a' valve plate 12. A suction valve 13 located 1929. Serial No. 358,299.

on the valve plate has apassage way to the suction pipe'14; having an oil overflow hole 15 therein. Below the suction tube is the bafile 16 to prevent liquid refrigerant splashing directly into the tube. A liquid valve 17 is also located on the valve plate and has a liquid port orentry 18 with the screen 19 and perforated cone 20 to catch any dirt in the refrigerant and prevent entry of same into the boiler. Bracket 21 supports a needle valve 22 which is in turn controlled by the float ball 23 on the float ball arm 24. A liquid refrigerant 25 preferably sulphur dioxide is contained within the boiler during operation. Some oil also is present on the surface of the refrigerant during operation. In Fig. 4 the refrigerant is not disclosed in the lower passages of the evaporator for the sake of clearness. On the inner side of the boiler are one or more indentations 26 preferably two as disclosed. A collar 27 is preferably welded on the inside circumference of the hole through the base of these indentations or depressions 26 and has a short tube projecting through the hole. The exposed parts of the elements thus far described and generally referred to as a header are covered with a metal of high polishability, preferably chromium although others such as nickel might also be used. This surface which is preferably plated thereon constitutes a very smooth, hard, non-rusting finish which is very easily cleaned.

Depending from the header thus described is preferably a hollow wall enclosure 28 or casting for ice making receptacles such as ice trays. This hollow enclosure is preferably formed of an outer. sheet metal Wall 29 and an inner sheet metalwall 30 preferably welded together to form an oblong enclosure as disclosed in the drawings. As desired a back 31 may be placedthe reon preferably by welding corner strips 32 to the rear corners of the enclosure 28 and placing the bolts or other fastening means 65 through the back and corner pieces. the enclosure 28 are preferably flutes or channels or grooves 33 in the outer sheet or wall 29. These channels are smoothand well rounded so as to present a surface that shall On the two sides and bottom of.

be easily cleaned while at the same time providing an increased area for additional heat transference between the air of the refrigerator and the interior of the case. These grooves have their troughs preferably contacting with the inner wall and thus forming passageways or conduits 34 by means of their crests or the space between the troughs in combination with the inner wall 30. The troughs of the grooves are spot welded to the inner Wall 30 at convenient places. If this or some equivalent operation were not done, the sheet metal walls would bulge with the pressure of the refrigerant. These passageways preferably extend vertically down the two sides of the enclosure and transversely across the bottom. In the top of the enclosure are one or more and preferably two holes 35. A collar 36 is welded with a small portion projecting through these holes but the major portion of the collar projects upwardly into the indentation 26 when the enclosure is assembled to the header. This collar 26 has interior screw threads forming a fastening means whereby the enclosure may be attached to the header. A washer 37 is pref- ,erably placed between the collars 27 and 36 and a connecting member 38 havingscrew threads thereon to cooperate with the screw threads or collar 36 to constitute in combinationtherewith a fastening means for the header and enclosure. The connecting member 38 has a hollow and preferably hexagonal passageway cooperating with the central passageway of the collar 36 to provide means whereby the liquid refrigerant may descend into the hollow interior of the enclosure and whereby the refrigerant in the enclosure that has been evaporated into a gas may ascend into the upper section of the tank and be drawn ofl through the tube 15 and suction valve 13 to be compressed and liquefied.

The hexagonal passageway cooperating with the central passage of the collar 36 is adapted to receive a suitable wrench which may be inserted through the opening of ring 11, when the valve plate 12 is removed, to tighten or loosen the connecting member 38. Thus it is apparent that the header or tank 10 is detachably secured to the hollow wall enclosure 28 permitting replacement of either portion of the evaporator should one portion become damaged.

As disclosed in Fig. 3 the flutes or channels or grooves 39 do not extend clear across the top of the enclosure but are divided into two sections that approach near to the center line through the two holes 35. The channels 40 at the location at the side of the holes 35 are shorter than the other channels on the top of the casing. This arrangement of the channels in length and also in two different sections on each side of the line along the center of the two holes so that none are directly below the lowest part of the header allows the ways 41 to the large passageways 43 and 44 extending along the boundary of the top and the two sides. The liquid then descends the sides to the bottom. In other words the flutes or channels besides presenting an increased heat absorbing surface that is easily cleaned and affording means for very conveniently spot welding the walls together also provide a very efiicient distributing systemfor the liquid refigerant about the top, sides and bottom of the interior of the enclosure. In this manner the unsightly tubes or loops of the prior art have been replaced by an cilicient structure much more beautiful in appearance.

As disclosed in Fig. 4, a projection 45 which may be welded or soldered to the inner side of the enclosure or may be constituted by a raised integral portion of such inner side, constitutes a support for a shelf 47. The ends of this projection 45 are rounded as at 46 to provide an easily cleaned surface. The rear of the shelf 47 has a short downwardly extending flange 48 but the front end of the shelf has two flanges 49 and 50 extending around the front 46 of the projection 45. This construction of the shelf allows it to be easily removed for cleaning purposes because it is only necessary to press upward on the center of the shelf to raise the flange 48 out of engagement with the rear of the projection 45 and then to pull the shelf directly forward to release the engagement of the flange 50 with the projection 45. To replace the shelf the front flanges 49 and 50 are placed so that they engage the projection 45 properly and then the rear end of the shelf is pressed down so that flange 48 engages with the rear of the projection 45. Upon-the shelves which may be of any desired number corresponding to the desired size of the enclosure are ice freezing receptacles 51 commonly referred to as ice trays having the tray fronts 52with handles therein. These tray fronts preferably extend so close to one another that no additional dividing element is necessary between the trays. The front flange 49 may be slightly visible between the various tray fronts. The enclosure is coated with a vitreous enamel baked in a high temperature, preferably poreelain, and this constitutes a very beautiful and easily cleaned surface for the enclosure. The tray fronts and shelves may be coated or covered also with vitreous enamel baked in a high temperature to correspond with the surface of the exterior or they may be instead covered with the same or similar metal of high polishability that the header is plated with. The construction of the usual header does not permit its being coated with porcelain as porcelain requires even heating and cooling throughout its structure. The thinner tank 10 will cool more rapidly than the heavier ring 11 and plate 12 and for this reason porcelain can not be satisfactorily used with the header disclosed. In either case all exposed parts of the header and enclosures are covered with a surface that is easily cleaned and of very pleasing appearance. In Fig. 2 is disclosed a section of a cabinet illustrating the installation of the evaporator. Brackets 53 and 54 support the header in the cabinet and are attached to the inner lining 55 of the same. Also disclosed is the insulation 56 and the outer framework or covering 57 for the installation. An L-shaped partition 58 provides a compartment for the evaporator and has openings 60 and 61 located therein for circulation of air through the compartment for cooling the rest of the food chamber. The bonnet 62 prevents any dripping of condensed moisture from the evaporator dripping on the food. Connections 63 and 64 extend to any type of refrigerant supply apparatus such as that disclosed in the patent to H. B. Hull, No. 1,648,178 issued November 8, 1927. It is obvious of course that the type of refrigerator or refrigerant supply apparatus is a matter of choice.

It will thus be observed that a very beautiful and efficient evaporator has been constructed according to the teachings of the invention. It will be noted that by use of the indentations 26 on the lower part of the boiler and by means of the collar 37 projecting into said indentations that the enclosure is very close. coupled to the header. This close coupling conceals the connections between the header and the enclosure for the ice freezing receptacle. The result as disclosed in Fig. 2 is a very graceful outline of the evaporator. The use of the coating such as chromium for the header and porcelain for\ the enclosure adds also to the pleasing appearance and also allows the evaporator to be easily cleaned.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows 1. An evaporator for refrigerating apparatus including a header and an enclosure for an ice making receptacle, said header having one or more depressions in its under portion, fastening means attached to said enclosure and projecting for a major portion of its length into said depressions whereby said enclosure is close coupled to said header.

2. An evaporator for refrigerating apparatus including a header and an enclosure for an ice making receptacle, said header having one or more depressions in its under portion, fastening means attached to said enclosure and projecting for a major portion of its length into said depressions whereby said enclosure is close coupled to said header, and fastening means on said header adapted to cooperate with said fastening means on said enclosure to provide one or more passage ways from the interior of said header to said enclosure.

3. An evaporator for refrigerating apparatus including a header and an enclosure for an ice making receptacle, said header having one or more depressions in its under portion, fastening means attached to said enclosure and projecting for a major portion of its length into said depressions whereby said enclosure is close coupled to said header, said header adapted to contain liquid refrigerant, said enclosure comprising hollow walls adapted to contain liquid refrigerant therebetween, said fastening means on said enclosure including conduit means whereby refrigerant may pass from said header to said enclosure.

4. An evaporator for refrigerating apparatus including a header and an enclosure for an ice making receptacle, said header having one or more depressions in its under portion, fastening means attached to said enclosure and projecting for a major portion of its length into said depressions whereby said enclosure is close coupled to said header, said enclosure comprising an inner wall and an outer wall adapted to contain liquid refrigerant, a passage way through said fastening means for said refrigerant, grooves in said outer wall contacting with said inner wall and passageways for said refrigerant between the grooves and formed by the creation of said grooves. 5. An evaporator for refrigerating apparatus including a header and an enclosure for an ice making receptacle, said header having one or more depressions in its under portion, fastening means attached to said enclosureand projecting for a major portion of its length into said depressions whereby said enclosure is close coupled to said header, said enclosure comprising an inner wall and an outer wall adapted to contain liquid refrigerant, a passage way through said fastening means for said refrigerant, grooves in said outer wall contacting with said inner wall and passageways for said refrigerant between the grooves and formed by the creation of said grooves, said walls being spot welded together along said grooves.

6. An evaporator for refrigerating apparatus including a header and an enclosure for an ice making receptacle, said header having one or more depressions in a wall thereof, fastening means attached to sald enclosure and projecting lnto said depressions whereby .said enclosure is close coupled to said header.

7. An evaporator for refrigerating apparatus including a header and an enclosure for an ice making receptacle, said header having one or more depressions in a wall thereof, fastening means attached to said enclosure and projecting for a major portion of its length into said depressions whereby said enclosure is close coupled to said header.

8. An evaporator for refrigerating apparatus including a header and an enclosure for an ice making receptacle, said header and said enclosure being detachably secured together, said header having one or more depressions in a wall thereof, fastening means attached to said enclosure and projecting into said depressions whereby said enclosure is close coupled to said header.

9. An evaporator for refrigerating apparatus including a member forming a reservoir for liquid refrigerant and another member secured thereto forming an enclosure for an ice making receptacle, one or more depressions in one of said members, fastening means attached to the otherof said members and projecting into said depressionswhereby said members are close coupled together.

10. An evaporator for nefrigerating apparatus including a member forming a reservoir for liquid refrigerant and another member secured thereto forming an enclosure for an ice making receptacle, one or more depressions in one of said members, fastening means attached to the other of said members and projecting for a major portion of its length into said depressions whereby said members are close coupled together.

ing said refrigerant conveying duct means to said header.

14. An evaporator for refrigerating apparatus including a header and a refrigerant conveying duct member, a member for detachably connecting said refrigerant conveying duct member to said header, fastening means on one of said members, and means accessible only from within said header for actuating said fastening means.

15. An evaporator for refrigerating apparatus including a header and refrigerant conveying duct means, fastening means on the interior wall of said duct means, and means within said header having a portion thereof extending into said duct means and engaging said fastening means for detachably connecting said duct means to said header, said last named means being accessible only from within said header.

In testimony whereof I hereto affix my signature.

JESSE e. KING.

11. An evaporator for refrigerating apparatus including a member forming a reservoir for liquid refrigerant and another member detachably secured thereto forming an enclosure for an ice making receptacle, one or more depressions in one of said members, fastening means attached to the other of said members and projecting into said depressions whereby said members are close coupled together.

7 12. An evaporator for refrigerating apparatus including a header and refrigerant conveying duct means, fastening means on said duct means, and means accessible only from within said header for detachably connecting said refrigerant conveying duct means to said header.

13. An evaporator for refrigerating apparatus including a header and refrigerant conveying'duct means, said header having a depression in a wall thereof, fastening means on said duct means, said fastening means projecting into said depression, and means Within saidheader for'detachably connect- 

